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Wolves

Genetics

There is only a 0.2% difference from the DNA sequence of the gray wolf and domestic dog. About 12,000 years ago, man befriended the wolf and so our role in domestication took place to create an animal that could help us hunt, be a loyal and faithful companion and protect our livestock. Various Native American tribes were the first of our species to form this relationship. The wolf is a version of a wild dog and dogs are a version of a domesticated wolf. Wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, etc. belong to the family Canidae. Due to selective breeding, we have come up with a multitude of wolf versions in all forms of our domestic dogs. From Poodles to Chihuahuas, all dogs hold this ancestry to the wild and this is why it is important to understand the role of genetics.